Ashanti (singer) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ashanti
Ashanti in 2018
Background information
Birth name	Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas
Born	(1980-10-13) October 13, 1980 (age 44) Glen Cove, New York, U.S.
Genres	R&B pop hip hop soul
Occupations	Singer songwriter actress
Years active	1992–present
Labels	Written eOne AJM Murder Inc. Def Jam Island Def Jam

Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas (born October 13, 1980) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She became famous in 2002 after working with rappers Fat Joe and Ja Rule. Her songs "What's Luv?" and "Always on Time" were big hits. Her own debut single, "Foolish", also topped the charts. This made her the first female artist to have two songs in the top two spots on the Billboard Hot 100 chart at the same time.

Her first album, Ashanti (2002), was a huge success. It sold over 500,000 copies in its first week and won a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Album. Ashanti has sold nearly 30 million records around the world. She has also acted in several movies and TV shows.

Early Life and Discovering Music

Ashanti Douglas was born on October 13, 1980, in Glen Cove, New York. Her mother, Tina Douglas, was a dance teacher. Her father, Ken-Kaide Thomas Douglas, was a singer. Ashanti is the older of two children. Her mother named her after the Ashanti Empire in Ghana. In this ancient nation, women were powerful and important. Tina wanted Ashanti to be strong and influential like those women. Her grandfather, James, was a civil rights activist. He worked with Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1960s.

Ashanti's mother realized her daughter could sing when Ashanti was 12. She heard Ashanti singing Mary J. Blige's song "Reminisce." While in high school, Ashanti started writing her own songs. As a teenager, she performed in local talent shows. She also appeared as an extra in movies like Spike Lee's Malcolm X (1992). She also had small roles in music videos. Ashanti tried to get a record deal with several labels. She kept performing and spent time at the Murder Inc. recording studio. She hoped to get her big break there.

Music Career Highlights

Early Success and Debut Album

Record producer Irv Gotti first noticed Ashanti because of her amazing singing voice. He asked her to write catchy parts for his rap artists. She also sang with them in duets. Ashanti provided background vocals on Big Pun's song "How We Roll." She also sang on Cadillac Tah's songs "Pov City Anthem" and "Just Like a Thug." In 2001, she was featured on the The Fast and the Furious soundtrack. She sang on Vita's remake of Madonna's "Justify My Love" and her solo track "When a Man Does Wrong."

Then, she was featured on Fat Joe's "What's Luv?" and Ja Rule's "Always on Time". These two songs were released at the same time. They became huge hits in 2002. Ashanti made history by having "Always on Time" and "What's Luv?" at numbers one and two on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. This was the first time a female artist had done this.

After these successful collaborations, Ashanti released her first solo single, "Foolish". This song used a part of the 1983 song "Stay with Me" by DeBarge. "Foolish" became her biggest hit. It stayed at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for ten weeks. She was only the second artist, after The Beatles, to have her first three songs in the top ten of the Hot 100 at the same time.

Ashanti's first album, also called Ashanti, came out in April 2002. It was released on Irv Gotti's Murder Inc. record label. The album debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 albums chart. It was certified triple platinum in the United States. It sold six million copies worldwide. Ashanti wrote all twelve songs on the album. Her next singles, "Happy" and "Baby", were also successful. They reached the top ten and top twenty in the U.S.

Ashanti's debut album won her many awards. These included eight Billboard Music Awards and two American Music Awards. She also won a Grammy Award in 2003 for Best Contemporary R&B Album. She was the first artist to win this award.

Chapter II and Ashanti's Christmas

In July 2003, Ashanti released her second album, Chapter II. It also debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. It sold 326,000 copies in its first week in the U.S. The album went platinum, selling over 1.5 million copies in the U.S. The first single from Chapter II, "Rock wit U (Awww Baby)", was a big hit. It reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100. Its music video showed Ashanti on a beach with an elephant. The second single, "Rain on Me", reached number seven on the Hot 100.

Chapter II was nominated for a 2004 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Album. "Rock wit U (Awww Baby)" and "Rain on Me" also received Grammy nominations. In the music video for "Rain on Me", Ashanti played a young woman in a difficult relationship. She received an award for speaking out against tough situations. In November 2003, Ashanti released a Christmas album called Ashanti's Christmas. It had 10 Christmas songs. It sold about 100,000 copies in the U.S.

Concrete Rose and Acting Career

Ashanti performing in 2005

Before her album Concrete Rose was released, Ashanti promoted her single "Only U". She performed it at the 2004 Vibe Music Awards. She also sang on "Wonderful" with Ja Rule and R. Kelly that year. This song reached number five in the U.S. and number one in the UK. In December 2004, Ashanti released her third studio album, Concrete Rose. The title was inspired by Tupac Shakur's nickname, "The Rose That Grew from Concrete." The album debuted at number seven in the U.S. It sold 254,000 copies in its first week. It became her third album to be certified platinum.

The first single, "Only U", reached number thirteen on the Billboard Hot 100. It was her biggest hit in the United Kingdom, reaching number two. A second single, "Don't Let Them", did not do as well. This was because of some legal challenges involving her record label.

In 2005, Ashanti focused more on acting. She made her movie debut in Coach Carter with Samuel L. Jackson. She also starred as Dorothy Gale in the TV movie The Muppets' Wizard of Oz. This movie was watched by nearly 8 million viewers. She sang "When I'm with You" for the film. This song was nominated for an Emmy Award. In 2006, she starred in the teen comedy John Tucker Must Die. In 2007, she had a supporting role in the action film Resident Evil: Extinction.

Later Albums and Projects

Ashanti at the Heart Truth Fashion Show in 2008

Her fourth studio album, The Declaration, was released on June 3, 2008. It sold 86,000 copies in its first week. This was her lowest first-week sales for a studio album. The song "The Way That I Love You" was released in January 2008. It reached number two on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. It also reached number thirty-seven on the Billboard Hot 100. This was Ashanti's first song to reach the top forty since "Only U" in 2004.

In May 2009, Irv Gotti announced that Ashanti was leaving The Inc. Records. He said their working relationship had come to an end. On September 24, 2009, Ashanti announced her fifth studio album would be released on her new label, Written Entertainment.

Ashanti also starred in the musical The Wiz in New York City in 2009. She played Dorothy. Critics had mixed reviews, praising her singing but less so her acting.

Hiatus and Braveheart

Toccara Jones and Ashanti at the New York Fashion Week of 2012

After a four-year break, Ashanti released the song "Never Too Far Away" in 2011. It was featured in the movie Dream House. The first single from her fifth studio album, "The Woman You Love" featuring Busta Rhymes, was released in December 2011. She also worked with Meek Mill and French Montana on "No One Greater." In April 2013, she released another single called "Never Should Have." This song won "Best Independent R&B/Soul Performance" at the 2013 Soul Train Awards.

In November 2012, Ashanti got her first regular TV role in the seventh season of Army Wives. She played Latasha Montclair. The show was canceled in September 2013. In late 2013, she appeared as a guest on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. She also starred in the Lifetime movie Christmas in the City.

On January 8, 2014, Ashanti announced her fifth album, Braveheart. It was released on March 4, 2014. The album received good reviews. Music critics called its sound an "evolution of R&B." They praised the themes of empowerment. Braveheart debuted at number ten on the U.S. Billboard 200. It became Ashanti's fifth album to reach the top ten.

Recent Collaborations

Ashanti performing in Las Vegas in October 2023.

In 2015, Ashanti announced she was working on new music for her seventh album. She worked with Michelle Obama for her #Let'sMove campaign. This campaign encouraged people to drink water. She released a video and song called "Let's Go" for it. In 2016, she sang on the song "Seven Day Love" for Canadian singer Belly. She also worked with many artists like Sia, Alicia Keys, and John Legend. They interpreted songs from the Broadway musical "Hamilton" for "The Hamilton Mixtape".

In 2017, Ashanti announced her seventh studio album would be released in 2018. She later said this was not true. She confirmed a future album with rapper Ja Rule. Ashanti released the song "Pretty Little Thing" with Afro B in August 2019. She also appeared on the soundtrack for the film Stuck, which she produced. In November 2019, Ashanti appeared as herself in two episodes of The CW's Dynasty TV show.

In January 2021, Ashanti released her single "2:35 (I Want You)". In March 2022, her song "Rock wit U (Awww Baby)" was used in British rapper Aitch's single "Baby." In October 2022, Ashanti was featured on Diddy’s “Gotta Move On” remix. In February 2024, she was featured on Jermaine Dupri's single "This Lil' Game We Play" with Nelly and Juicy J.

Music Style

Ashanti has a lyric soprano voice. Critics have described her voice as "pretty" and "sweet." Jason Birchmeier of AllMusic noted how she uses her "swooning voice" in duets. When she was young, Ashanti was inspired by Ella Fitzgerald, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, and Prince. However, she says Mary J. Blige was the main reason she wanted to be a singer. Other artists who influenced her include Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, and Madonna.

Giving Back to the Community

In 2003, Ashanti worked with the Family Violence Prevention Fund (FVPF). They wanted to raise awareness about domestic violence. She helped distribute her "Rain on Me" mini-movie. Money from the sales went to help stop domestic violence. Ashanti also recorded a public service announcement. This message was shown in over 4,000 movie theaters.

Ashanti also helps raise money for sickle cell research. She is very active with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. She says, "I'll go and do just about anything for them." In 2005, Ashanti helped raise money for the Southeast Asia tsunami disaster. Later that year, she helped raise money for the Hurricane Katrina victims.

In 2008, Ashanti and other celebrities recorded a public service announcement. It was to help stop violence and unfair treatment towards the LGBT community. This was in response to the death of Lawrence King, a young student. That same year, she started an online campaign called "I Declare Me..." with Wal-Mart. This campaign focused on women defining themselves and feeling strong. It created a safe online space for women to share their stories.

Ashanti receiving the Boys & Girls Clubs of America Youth of the Year Ambassador Award in 2012. Also pictured is Representative Terri Sewell.

In September 2009, Ashanti joined other artists for the song "Just Stand Up!". This charity song was for cancer research. All 15 singers performed the song live on September 5, 2008. This was during the "Stand Up to Cancer" TV special. It aired on ABC, NBC, and CBS at the same time. It helped raise $100 million for cancer research.

In November 2009, Ashanti joined the TV show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. She helped rebuild the Powell Family home in Buffalo, New York. In 2013, Ashanti was featured on the album Songs for a Healthier America. This project was by the Partnership for a Healthier America. Its honorary chair is Michelle Obama. Ashanti's song "Just Believe" was on the album. She also works with the Jumpstart reading program and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

Personal Life

Ashanti dated rapper Nelly from 2003 to 2013. They met at the 2003 Grammy Awards. They started dating again in 2023. In December 2023, it was reported they were expecting their first child. They also got married on December 27, 2023. In April 2024, Ashanti confirmed her pregnancy and their engagement in Essence magazine. On July 18, 2024, the couple welcomed their first child.

Discography

Studio albums

• Ashanti (2002)
• Chapter II (2003)
• Ashanti's Christmas (2003)
• Concrete Rose (2004)
• The Declaration (2008)
• Braveheart (2014)

Filmography

Film

Television

Theater

See Also

In Spanish: Ashanti (cantante) para niños

• List of awards and nominations received by Ashanti